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Topic: Life after All-Stars by Ethan Zohn (Read 434 times)

lakelady
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Life after All-Stars by Ethan Zohn
« on: Jul 7^th, 2004, 3:05am »

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Despite my kitten's attempt to sabotage the whole thing by knocking my phone and wireless router out of service, I recently had the opportunity to interview Ethan as he was heading to Canada to film a TV show.

eZohn.com: Looking back on it, Survivor: All-Stars, was it a mistake? Or was it good?

EZ: Was doing it a mistake?

eZohn.com: Doing it from your personal perspective, your participation in it, and for the show itself. Should there have been a Survivor: All-Stars?

EZ: Those are both good questions. I think, for me, definitely not a mistake. Going into it, I knew that I had a target on my back that the odds of me winning again were pretty much slim to none. But I could not pass up this opportunity. And, I cant do the math, but theres like 118 of us Survivors and they only asked 18 of us back and I was one of them. Also, there were only 4 winners asked back they didnt even ask all the winners so it was kind of an honor. I obviously did something good the first time, that CBS liked or that the viewers liked, to ask me back again. So that was kind of nice. I wasnt going to pass it up. Plus, Im the most competitive guy in the friggin world. I wasnt going to let everyone else go out there and do something and not be a part of it. But, you know, as much as it sucks and youre starving and miserable, there are some parts that are a little bit fun.

eZohn.com: Youve said in other interviews that you didnt have a lot of fun out there this time

EZ: Well, there are moments. Winning those little steak kabobs was fun. There were times when Colby, Lex and I were diving off the rocks and the cameras werent showing it. So, there were little bits of fun, but overall it sucked and I was miserable the entire time.

eZohn.com: And you had to spend your 30th birthday out there too.

EZ: And I had to spend my 30th birthday and my 30th birthday was pretty much, I think it was one of the worst nights I had out there. It was the night of that giant storm where Rupert built the bomb shelter and it got filled with water. I woke up and water was, like, up to my neck. So we ran out of there and ended up standing in the middle of the rain for 7 or 8 hours and Jerri is complaining the whole time, threatening to quit and she doesnt deserve this and we're going to die and she makes it further than me in the game.

eZohn.com: You didnt seem too happy about that.

EZ: No. I wasnt. She was honestlyshe got the best editing Ive ever seen anyone get. She was out there complaining the whole time, extremely selfish, always concerned about how she looked, how her hair looked, how her face looked on camera. It was so frustrating. Rupert and I basically did the work for five people and she didnt lift a finger. I guess its smart, she didnt lift a finger and she still got through and that could have been her strategy, but it was so frustrating.

But in terms of CBS doing All-Stars? I cant say. I mean the ratings were good and everyone wanted it. For years now, well, for a couple seasons now, people have been wanting the All-Star. They had to try it and see how it goes and Im just glad I was a part of it. But I dont know if theyll do another All-Star.

eZohn.com: I think part of the problem is, if you wait around until you have enough winners or winners and second place people to make up the whole cast, you just dont know if the shows going to be around that long.

EZ: Exactly. With all winners or one tribe of all winners but then when you merge then you have an issue as well. But Id heard at some point they were going to have a tribe of winners and a tribe of all new people and a bunch of different stuff.

eZohn.com: Were you surprised at how strong the sentiment was against former winners?

EZ: Was I surprised? I was surprised at their rational. It was almost like, oh, you won before, and you dont deserve a chance to try and win again. That was shocking. I could understand if they thought we were good players, or were very strategic or sneaky or athletic. But they didnt even consider that. I was just that wed won and already had a million get them off as soon as possible, they dont deserve a chance. So it was a little bit disappointing that people would actually use resentment and use revenge as a strategy.

eZohn.com: Do you think they really felt that or do you think they felt expressing that was a way to get easy votes?

EZ: I think some of the people actually felt that, but it was a way to get votes as well. The first couple of days of the game you need an excuse to vote someone off. The winners were at such a disadvantage. You know, Africa, Diane was a given. She sucked and was ill so we could vote her off. Looking for a reason to vote someone off, being a winner is a good enough reason to vote someone off so we were kind of a disadvantage. And there was one tribe that didnt even have a winner, so they had a huge advantage and, if you look, that was the tribe that ended up going the furthest. Saboga and Mogo Mogo had sure things the winners go first and then we can start deciding what we want to do.

eZohn.com: Its pretty funny because when the make-up of the different teams was announced, everyone thought Mogo Mogo would win all the challenges because they had Lex, Colby and Richard who all did well with challenges in their season. Then they thought Saboga would do well because of you and Rupert. And that other tribe, they are doomed.

EZ: And look what happened.

eZohn.com: Yeah, do you think maybe the fact they felt like the misfits gave them an advantage?

EZ: Maybe they felt like a bunch of mismatched people and it made them work better together as a team.

eZohn.com: And add to that the fact they didnt have a winner in their tribe to cause that instant division

EZ: True.

eZohn.com: Speaking of not being happy that you got voted out before Jerri, there were rumors going around that you threw a bit of a hissy fit when you found out you were going to get voted out.

EZ: People have told me I threw a hissy fit, but I dont remember throwing a hissy fit. I know I was very angry.

(We lost the phone connection and had to start again)

I dont think I threw a hissy fit. I mean, realistically, if I threw a hissy fit that was that big, dont you think it would have been on TV?

eZohn.com: Yeah, I was wondering about that too, but I was also wondering if it was because they were trying to paint Lex in a more negative light and make him look even sillier with his lets see if you can lose with grace parting comments to you.

EZ: I truly, truly dont remember throwing a hissy fit. I mean, the only person who started saying that was Shii Ann.

eZohn.com: Did you know about Lexs parting comments before you saw them on TV? How did you feel about them?

EZ: I felt, I mean he looked so stupid and he looked so silly saying that. I guess it's good editing, but he did say that. I dont know if he was just trying to get a sound bite I was a little bit surprised as those words came out of his mouth because I really did nothing Our time together out there on this All-Stars, I really did nothing to make him dislike me. Lets see if you can lose as gracefully as you won and he winks and goes k,k like that. That was a little cocky, sucking up to the cameras because he knew hed get on. I was definitely surprised when he said that. But he looked like a fool because after that I got up, kissed everyone on the head, shook their hands, wished them luck and left like a good winner.

eZohn.com: Like a good little boy.

EZ: A good little boy! For me it was a game. I mean, the whole Lex thing? Yeah, I was pissed and I was shocked and I was just baffled at his strategy. Heres a rational smart guy, we went did it this the first time and I just could not understand what was going through his head. I didnt understand why he didnt keep me because, one, we could potentially do better at challenges. He left himself out there hes got 3 girls and him. As long as Im there, Im a buffer.

eZohn.com: Exactly, he left himself as the only target.

EZ: Exactly, he left himself as the biggest and only male target come the merge. If I was there, I would definitely I mean if he wanted to, if he said, lets vote Ethan off it would take one or two seconds to tell everyone to vote me off and I would be done come the merge. I would have been the buffer. It would have given him an extra three days at the least.

eZohn.com: It just made no sense to me because he seemed to vote out the people he was friends with and felt he could trust.

EZ: Yeah.

eZohn.com: I mean, you and Colby are kind of known for believing integrity follows you into the game you dont check it at the door.

EZ: Truthfully, I think it was his fault that Rob and Amber won. Lets go back to Jerri. If hed have kept Jerri and voted off Amber, I dont think Rob would have won. He voted off me who he knew he could trust. He voted off Jerri who he knew he could trust. He had no options; he had no way out. And he voted off Colby. All of us he had our trust, he knew we were fairly trustworthy, honest game players, whatever, whatever, whatever. I think he played a stupid game. As hard as he thought he was playing, he did not do the right thing and he ruined it for a lot of people.

eZohn.com: I dont understand all of his arguments at the end

EZ: If you look at the finale, I dont understand what hes thinking there. Truthfully, I was a little bit relieved when the audience booed him - well, I felt bad that they booed him because its not nice to be booed - but what Lex did to me is the exact thing that Rob did to Lex, if not worse because Lex and I actually had a genuine relationship and a real friendship, but Rob and Lex I mean, yeah, they hung out at charity events and maybe they talked once or twice on the phone, but it was nothing compared to what Lex and I have.

eZohn.com: They are more like acquaintances.

EZ: Yeah. And he knew the way Rob played the first time around. Robs total strategy in Marquesas was to lie, cheat, steal, do whatever he could to get through. And Lex knew that and all of a sudden he puts 100% of his trust in him.

eZohn.com: Thats what I didnt get. I didnt watch much of Robs season, but even with the little I did watch, I knew this was a guy you dont trust within the game.

EZ: Exactly.

eZohn.com: But you and Lex, youve worked things out? Youre okay?

EZ: Oh yeah. I was fine with it after I got off the island. I mean, for me, it was just a game and I was happy with the way I played. I have no regrets and I outlasted all the other winners, which I was pretty psyched about the last winner standing. And I think I went a lot further than people ever imagined. I think they thought I was going to go before Richard and Colby. So, I was kinda happy about that. The producers out there called me Teflon because I kept sticking around.

eZohn.com: That brings up the question the last winner standing if one of the other winners hadnt left the game, do you think that still would have been the case? If Jenna hadnt left?

EZ: If Jenna hadnt left? Yeah, thats a tough question because, I dont know. If Jenna had stayed there, Richard probably would have been the first. It probably would have gone Richard, Colby. And then if we still got dissolved and I went over there and then it would have been Jenna and I in an alliance, probably a secret alliance. I dont know what would have happened. No, Jenna probably would have been the last winner because they would have gotten rid of me a lot earlier.

eZohn.com: It was really funny, and sorry about this, to hear all of these people talking about you like you were a big physical threat and then theyd cut it with you spazzing out in some of the challenges.

EZ: I know. Everyone says I lost all the challenges. I dunno, maybe just one or two. Yeah, maybe I messed up a couple of times, but, not to sound like I'm stroking my ego, without me in those challenges they would have been farther behind in the first place.

eZohn.com: Definitely. I think in all of them, there were many things that went wrong, it was just that what happened with you was the easiest thing to point to.

EZ: Yeah. I mean, if you look at the boat challenge, Rupert and I were the only ones going down and get the blocks off the boat. You had Jerri, Rudy and Jenna back on the dock waiting for us they could have figured out a way to get the boat out of the water. And Rudys a friggin Navy Seal! And yeah, I should have though of it too you dont try to bail the boat while the boats still in water, you pick it up and you dump it. They blame me, but theres tons of stuff that goes into the challenges. The log cabin challenge? I had to go along with that one.

eZohn.com: Why did you feel you had to? Did you feel your situation was that precarious?

EZ: At that stage in the game, I was number four. Rupert and Jenna were tight and then Jerri was in there and then it was me. I was the next to be voted out without a doubt. So here we are building this log cabin and I start realizing that I have to find a way in. Ive got to weasel my way in on the good side of Rupert because I didnt trust Jenna, theres no way Im going to suck up to her. So, just do what he says joke around with him and buddy up to him. And here he is building this ridiculous, underground, submarine, bomb shelter on the beach and Jerri starts arguing with him. I like, Im not going to step into this because hes just going to get into a big fight with Jerri. And they started yelling at each other and Jerris saying that this is ridiculous and stupid and I just sat there thinking, this is perfect. Now Ive got an extra three days.

eZohn.com: Speaking of Teflon, Rupert seems to have a Teflon image with the public he builds the bomb shelter, kind of beats up Johnny Fairplay - and everyone still loves him. It just seems amazing to me. And then that last vote for $1M winner

EZ: I think its just all a scam. I mean, I think Ruperts a little bit of a scam - only because, everyone loves him no matter what. It was his fault for the bomb shelter; it was his fault for the rowing challenge that ended up dissolving us. He built that ridiculous boat. What Rupert says, goes. If you try and do something other than what Rupert says, hell throw a hissy fit and start crying. Hes a big kid, basically, and a product of good editing.

For example, here you are maybe washing dishes down by the ocean and theres no one around you but the cameras. I mean, I dont talk to myself. Do you talk to yourself?

eZohn.com: Just occasionally.

EZ: But here is his [doing his best Rupert imitation], Oh the moon is so bright tonight, I miss you my loving wife and daughter. Who says that unless the cameras are there? He was a great character and America fell in love with a great character. He did play the game well. And was useful out there.

The whole popular vote thing. I dunno. That was a little sketchy also because if you look at all the previews, its like, Whos going to win the next million and then they show Rupert. And here youve got Rob and Amber and Rupert and Jenna Lewis on a three day press tour before the vote they are on all the morning shows and all the evening shows so that they can advertise themselves. So, Im a little skeptical about all that.

eZohn.com: I just thought it cheapened the show a lot.

EZ: Youre right. What happens if Rupert had won? Would he have gotten 2 million dollars? It does cheapen the show a little bit. A lot of things about this All-Star cheapened the show a little bit. There were so many outside activities that took away from the pure game of Survivor. I mean, the whole Batchelor aspect of it the proposal of marriage - Jerri walking off, Sue getting a makeover, Rupert winning the second million. I think it took away from the game. I dont think the Survivor purists enjoyed it very much.

eZohn.com: It really became more of a media circus then anything else.

EZ: Yes.

eZohn.com: Do you think part of it was because as seasoned people, you know how to manipulate the media some more?

EZ: Oh, thats a good question. Maybe. I mean, we are more camera savvy and we all did know that if you said certain things it will make it on TV, so in that sense, maybe. Im kind of glad they didnt ask me any questions at the finale. I was done with it. Im glad its over and Im kind of ready to move on. I mean, it was fun and exciting and, obviously, Im grateful for Survivor, but I think Ive had enough.

eZohn.com: Okay, so one more Survivor question and then well move on.

EZ: Okay.

eZohn.com: Was it as tense up on that stage at the finale as it seemed?

EZ: Oh. Yeah, it truly was tense. I felt uncomfortable at times. I mean, Lex and Rob really dont like each other. And Tom and Rob dont like each other. And Jerri really was crying and left. And Susan would not sit next to Richard. You know that old saying, cut the tension with a knife it really was tense. And then you see Jerri run off and Jeff Probst is looking around like, "what the heck do I do now?" And the proposal so it was like, oh god, what is this turning in to. So yeah, it was pretty tense up there.

eZohn.com: Yeah, I thought a lot of people looked uncomfortable up there.

EZ: Yeah, and like you said, it was a media circus. It was one thing after another.

eZohn.com: Okay, so I promised no more Survivor questions, but this is a Survivor one, but its also related a bit to whats going on now with your life. How difficult was it to say good-bye to Jenna when she left knowing why she was leaving?

EZ: Yeah, that sucked. I mean, it really was difficult. Here I was, I wanted to reach out and hug her and grab her and tell her everything was going to be okay. But you know the cameras are on you and you know everyone is watching you and youve got to try to control your emotions you dont want to look too weak or too strong so its the whole onslaught of emotions, so it was very difficult. But, I knew she was doing the right thing. That shed made a huge decision and shed made the right decision. I was proud of her and I just wished I could have told her, but there was no time and it was so rushed. I was just happy that I was the last one to hug her before she walked off.

eZohn.com: Yeah, it looked like you werent going to let go there for a second.

EZ: I know. We have a still a screen grab of just that thats pretty cool. You can see me, like, ripping her shoulder off.

eZohn.com: So, moving away from Survivor stuff, what have you been up to since All-Stars. Or, perhaps I should ask, what havent you been up to?

EZ: Oh, I think you know better than do what Ive been up to. I think you can predict my future. But yeah, a lot of great stuff. Grassroot Soccer, which I dont have to tell you about

eZohn.com: Yeah, but lets tell some other people where things stand with Grassroot Soccer. How is it going? Are you expanding? Whats going on?

EZ: Well, yeah. We are getting bigger by the day. We are working with World Vision and Johns Hopkins and ADD to expand. We are in Zambia and we are going to Ethiopia. We are having a big soccer tournament on World AIDS Day in Ethiopia. We are going into South Africa.

Now, whats happening is that people have gotten wind of our curriculum how great and progressive and educational and successful our curriculum is so they are taking our curriculum and using it for their programs. So, we are almost becoming consultants. We go and we train their trainers with our curriculum and then they can just use it in their program which is great. For us, its good because we dont have to fund those programs because we fall under the umbrella of their funding. For example, John Hopkins will hire us to train their trainers in Ethiopia with the Grassroot Soccer program.

eZohn.com: So that kind of underwrites your program.

EZ: Yes. Theyll pay for us to go out there. Granted, Id love to have Grassroot Soccer be Grassroot Soccer we run it, we have people on the ground and we fund it, but right now, we just dont have the funding for it.

eZohn.com: So, to you its more important that the message and the education get out there than it having your brand or stamp on it.

EZ: Exactly. And it is our name, but its not 100% our program. But I dont care. As long as kids are learning and we are saving lives, I could care less how it gets out there. So, thats pretty exciting. What else we had a celebrity soccer match that was pretty exciting. That was two years in development and I finally got it off the ground.

eZohn.com: How did that go?

EZ: It was good for awareness. We didnt raise that much money, but in terms of awareness People magazine is going to do a little thing on it, it was on Fox Sports World, Goal TV is going to be running it all these big-time celebrities now know about Grassroot Soccer and have said, anytime you need help with anything else, we are here for you. It was at Home Depot Center which is a huge beautiful stadium where the Galaxy play

eZohn.com: So you got to play soccer in a big beautiful professional soccer stadium, huh?

EZ: Eeexactly. And thats what its all about. Nah. So that was good. Weve got this event on August 28th coming up. And then Sail to Survive. I have about six games where Im doing side-line commentary for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Right now Im on my way up to Canada to host a fishing show

eZohn.com: How did you get hooked up with a fishing show? I just dont understand this.

EZ: Okay, well, its not just a fishing show. Its a Survivor-like contest. There are teams and the teams have to go out and fish and make a certain weight and if you dont, you dont make it to the next round. So, Ill be out there interviewing people and being kind of the host and the facilitator. And then there is a final day and someone gets voted off and someone is appointed a winner and they get 50 grand and their own fishing TV show. Its thirteen episodes. Its going to be on Outdoor Life Network and in Canada, so its pretty cool. Im psyched.

eZohn.com: You mentioned a Grassroot Soccer event on August 28th. What is that?

EZ: Basically, we are having a Survivor/Soccer weekend in Lancaster, PA. On Friday night we are going to have about, theres probably going to be about 12 or 13 All-Stars there and we are going to have bunch of professional soccer players some guys from Manchester United and England as well as some American players and we are going to have a little soccer match Friday night. Saturday morning is going to be a clinic for children with the soccer players and then Saturday afternoon is going to be a clinic for coaches. We have some pretty impressive coaches we have Tony DiCicco and Thomas [I couldn't make out the last name] both of which are famous in the coaching world in America. And then that evening well have a huge gala with lobster and steak. Well have a live auction and a silent auction. The guys from Whos Line is it Any Way are performing. The Survivors will be there. We have musical acts. Andrew Shue is going to be there. Costas Mandylor might be there.

eZohn.com: So, if people want to buy tickets for this gala

EZ: So, if people want to buy tickets for this gala Ill find out for you. Its going to be pretty cool. We are auctioning off a cruise and some sports memorabilia. Johnson and Johnson is a sponsor, Hersheys, Capri Sun and of course, hummel all of these people are big sponsors for us.

eZohn.com: So, has your whole wardrobe been taken over by hummel now?

EZ: A lot of it, yeah. Im pretty psyched about that. Hey I need this and I call them up. Its like my dream to be sponsored personally every soccer players dream.

eZohn.com: It really looked like yall were decked out in hummel gear at soccer games in Portugal.

EZ: Yeah, we went over there with hummel. hummel sponsors the Denmark national team and Denmark was in the tournament. We went to all the Denmark games with the whole hummel delegation. We actually walked in a hummel fashion show. It was a lot of fun.

eZohn.com: And you got to see a lot of good soccer.

EZ: And I got to see some really good soccer. I got to see like 13 games in 14 days. Jenna was there as well. I think the pictures are going to be in In Touch magazine this coming week.

eZohn.com: Oh cool. So, everyones real shocked that Greece is still in it.

EZ: Oh yeah. They are like super, super underdogs. So yeah, I was shocked last night they won unbelievable.

eZohn.com: Everyone likes it when the underdog wins.

EZ: Yeah, but theyve already played once Portugal and Greece have already played once in the tournament, so it will be interesting to see what happens this time.

eZohn.com: Is it difficult to keep focused on Grassroot Soccer with all of the things you have going on? I mean, is there such a thing as focus with all the directions you are being pulled in?

EZ: Yeah, it's a little difficult to be focused. But all these places for me, it's an opportunity to talk about Grassroot Soccer. Most of it's in the soccer field. Also, Sail to Survive, the celebrity soccer match all of that goes to Grassroot Soccer. I have a lot of speaking engagements in the fall at college campuses where I'll be speaking about Grassroot Soccer.

eZohn.com: Is that through the CampusSpeak program?

EZ: Exactly. I have 18 speeches lined up. So, everything points back to that it's my main focus and my drive.

eZohn.com: You've gotten pretty good about anytime there's a camera on your face bringing up Grassroot Soccer.

EZ: Yeah, everyone's pretty much sick of hearing about it, but I really don't care to tell you the truth.

eZohn.com: No, I think it's a good thing. You have to have the awareness to get the funding to do the stuff you need to do. Speaking of that, I had thought that logo shirts weren't allowed on Survivor. How did you get the Grassroot Soccer shirt on there?

EZ: That's because I wouldn't do it unless I could wear that.

eZohn.com: Oh really.

EZ: Yep. It wasn't like I was wearing something else's logo Grassroot Soccer is my doing, it's my being.

eZohn.com: Yeah, you weren't promoting some brand that competes with one of the show's sponsors or anything.

EZ: Yeah. But I said I wouldn't go on Survivor unless you let me wear this. It wasn't like I was playing hardball or anything. They wanted me on there and I wanted to go, but it was a great opportunity.

eZohn.com: And they already do so much for AIDS organization with the ties to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatrics AIDS Foundation, so it makes sense.

EZ: Right.

eZohn.com: I'm trying to remember some questions people submitted Is there such a thing as a typical day in your life? Or is every day something different?

EZ: Right now, there's no typical day, but you know me, I'm just like everyone else or at least I think so. I mean, I get to do fun stuff, but I like to go to the movies, I like to exercise, I like to ride my bike, visit with my family, hang out with my brother's little baby. So, right now it's all busy and crazy, but that's all going to end and I'll get back to same old Ethan.

eZohn.com: But there's no rhythm to your days right now

EZ: There's no 9-5 and no set schedule other than I know I have to get some stuff done by certain times, but yeah, there's no day-to-day, I guess.

eZohn.com: So you mentioned your little niece, do you enjoy being an uncle?

EZ: I love being an uncle. It's great. I have this problem, though I can't stop buying her clothes. They are so little and so cute. Every place I go, I bring her back another little outfit.

eZohn.com: Has her wardrobe been taken over by hummel as well?

EZ: Not yet, hummel doesn't make clothes for kids, but I did bring her home some nice clothes from France and Portugal.

eZohn.com: You're creating a problem for her parents.

EZ: I know, I know.

eZohn.com: Are you going back to Africa anytime soon?

EZ: The next time I'll be able to go back is for World AIDS day on December 1st. People magazine is going to be following us there. Potentially HBO the Bryant Gumbel's Real Sports will be coming with us as well. So that's pretty exciting. We are being given the Nkosi Johnson Community Spirit Award, so at that event Bono's going to be there and Viacom. We are doing the whole KickAIDS juggle-a-thon this fall.

And we've got this workbook the Grassroot Soccer Workbook coming out. Where now the kids will not only go through our program, but they'll also be able to take home a 60-page workbook. One side has a photo of a popular soccer star with an AIDS empowering quote and the other side has a little activity they can do that will help them remember what they learned in class. If we give these kids a little workbook, they will keep it for, like, 25 years.

eZohn.com: And maybe they will share it with their friends who were unable to go through the classes.

EZ: Exactly. It will be in a magazine format, it will look like Cosmo or something, so it will be great. So that's exciting for us.

eZohn.com: I know this was one question that was sent in, why didn't we see your glasses in All-Stars? I think some people were disappointed by the lack of glasses.

EZ: Oh. Good question first time anyone's asked that. It's because I got Lasik. I think I got it at the end of September? I got it when I had a pretty strong feeling I was going on Survivor. So at the end of September and then I had a month before I left. I knew that we were going to be around water. I mean, if I had contacts, I wouldnt have been able to do those challenges. You had to go underwater and open up your eyes and then you had to run and do some else.

eZohn.com: And it just makes sense if you want to continue to do those adventure races and stuff like that. Contacts can really hold you back in some stuff like that. (Speaking as someone who is legally blind without her contacts.)

EZ: Right. It's one of the best things that's ever happened to me.

eZohn.com: Really?

EZ: Oh yeah.

eZohn.com: How bad was your vision before?

EZ: I couldn't see two feet in front of me. First thing I did in the morning was pick up my glasses; last thing at night was take them off. I was pretty blind I think I was minus 6.5 in each eye? Which is awful.

eZohn.com: Yeah, I'm minus 6.75 in one and minus 8 something in the other.

EZ: So you are blind too. You should get lasik. It's so liberating, it's honestly changed my life.

eZohn.com: I bet. Especially with how active you are and how much traveling around you do. You don't have to worry about keeping up with your contacts or glasses.

EZ: Yeah. I mean, waking up, hopping in the shower, shaving you can see. If you go to the beach you don't have to bring your contacts, your prescription sunglasses, regular glasses and an extra pair of contacts. It's great.

eZohn.com: Okay, so you just said the "shaving" word. I must say that some people were surprised to see you, who have said that you are too lazy to shave your face, show up for a photo shoot with a shaved chest.

EZ: When you have to shoot a hunky, whatever, reality calendar, they tell you to shave your chest.

eZohn.com: Oh, they told you to do that?

EZ: Yeah, they think that if you want to look more buff or something it helps if you get rid your hair something about with the lighting and shading and stuff. I dunno. I just do what they tell me.

eZohn.com: It just cracked me up.

EZ: Yeah, it cracked me up too. My brothers won't stop making fun of me.

eZohn.com: Okay, here's a question I can remember someone sent in: do you have a favorite childhood memory that you'd care to share?

EZ: A favorite one? Uh, yeah. My family had a little cottage up in New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesaukee and during the summer we'd actually go fishing, if you can believe it. That's where I learned. But I loved going up with my family. One of my first camping experiences we went up there in the middle of winter. So, my brothers were ice fishing and my father was hungry so he handed me a can of chicken noodle soup. And he's like, "put this in the fire and heat it up and I'm going to go outside and watch the fishing." But, needless to say, he didn't tell me to take the top off. So, I'm little, I'm 9 or something and I have no clue. I shove the little can of soup in the fire with the tongs and about 10 minutes later it exploded. I'm telling you, it was like a bomb went off. It exploded chicken noodle soup everywhere all over my face. I'm crying, I'm yelling and my father sprints back in there saying, "what's wrong, what's wrong." That's a good memory.

eZohn.com: Last time we talked, you talked about some of the favorite events you've done has there been any since then that have topped that or that you really enjoyed?

EZ: Traveling to these events with Jenna makes it more fun than going by myself. I mean, sometimes you go to these events, shake hands, do a little speech and then go back to your hotel room and hang out. But now they are booking Jenna and I together, so that's much more fun and exciting that's always good. Portugal was good, the soccer game was fun, posing naked was very interesting.

eZohn.com: Yeah, you were running around New York naked today. [Ethan and Jenna posed for a PETA "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" promotion earlier that day.]

EZ: With a fig leaf.

eZohn.com: [laughs]

EZ: No, for real.

eZohn.com: Yeah, I've seen those ads before, I know what they do.

EZ: Oh, okay. But we are the first couple they've ever done.

eZohn.com: Oh really?

EZ: They've been doing the ads for 10 years and for the tenth year anniversary they decided to do a couple and they chose us.

eZohn.com: That's cool.

EZ: Yeah.

eZohn.com: So, it seems at first that you were a little reluctant to talk about your relationship with Jenna. Was that because you are a private person or was it because you weren't supposed to when Survivor was airing or what?

EZ: No, it's more press for them, so they don't care. But for me I dunno. I've just seen what happens to all these other people who step out with their relationships in the media. People make up rumors and I've had a lot of rumors in the past I just don't like it. It is my private life. I know it's what people like to hear about and whatever, but

eZohn.com: Was it difficult when all those rumors were printed in the press prior to Survivor?

EZ: Yeah, I hated that stuff, but I'm not the one who's going to go and fight back. People can write what they want, but they don't know me. They can write what they want it's not true. It would have looked silly if I'd had a rebuttal for everything. It's just not true, but my friends and my family, they know what's real.

eZohn.com: I know those rumors coming out changed the way some Survivor fans viewed your play or the game play and why people might not want you to go further in the game. I mean, many people felt the real reason Jenna Lewis didn't want you to go further in the game wasn't the "former winner" thing, but more of a "scorned girlfriend" thing.

EZ: Yeah, they can think that. I mean, we also did one of the most team building, emotional, frenzied things together we did Eco Challenge. That's much you make bonds during that like you do on Survivor.

eZohn.com: Right now you are still in this whirlwind, grabbing everything that's coming your way. How do you see yourself moving forward from this what do you see in your future? Do you have any goals?

EZ: For me, Grassroot Soccer is my first priority and I'll do anything to help Grassroot Soccer whether it's doing a cruise or a speech or what not I'll do it. I love doing the commentating for soccer. I'm not that great at it. I need practice and to take some classes. Hopefully I'll work on it and in a year or two maybe You know I'll keep doing it and hopefully get in an ESPN type of thing after I've done local. That's a goal of mine. And, obviously make Grassroot Soccer bigger and better and take over the entire world, that's a goal. That's pretty much enough. I'm still not chasing the movie-acting thing. Oh, and the Crunch Bowl. That's another thing. That's a goal of mine. It's going to be huge. That's how I'm going to make my next couple of million.

eZohn.com: I'm sorry, it still makes me giggle.

EZ: It should!

eZohn.com: What is the progress on that.

EZ: Oh yeah, it's being made and we're going to have an informercial on HSN (Home Shopping Network). So, hopefully we'll sell a bunch of units and everyone will have a good laugh.

But long term goals? That's that. I mean if someone says do this TV show, or be in this movie, or run in this race I'd probably do it just because it's fun. I'm going to keep doing the fun stuff because it would be silly not to. But it's not like I'm actively seeking that out.

eZohn.com: You did audition for "Curb Your Enthusiasm," but Colby ended up doing it.

EZ: Yes, but after I read for the part, I realized it wasn't a good fit for me. Even if they had offered me the role, I don't know if I would have accepted it. As much as I would have wanted to because of Larry David. But, um, to this day, I still think it's a little bit uh, tasteless.

eZohn.com: It's a very touchy subject.

EZ: Yes. For a Jewish person to make fun of the Holocaust or compare Suvivor to the Holocaust, it's a little bit sketchy. So, I'm glad I wasnt offered the role.

eZohn.com: I kind of feel the same way. [My tape is garbled here, but I brought up the Seinfeld episode where Jerry got caught making out during Schindler's List.]

EZ: I mean, I can giggle at it, but I wouldn't want to do it. It takes a certain person to be able to pull that off and I don't know if Colby was that person.

eZohn.com: Oh, you don't think he did that well in his segment?

EZ: I think he's a good actor, I just don't personally think he should have done it.

eZohn.com: I know recently you did that Country Music video thing or I don't know how recently you did it, but it just aired.

EZ: Was it funny? Was it good?

eZohn.com: Well, I don't like country music, so I haven't brought myself to really watch it yet.

EZ: I don't even know what I said. I don't know what they had me say. Did I say something pretty bad?

eZohn.com: I don't even really remember. Let's see, something about how scruffy guys can be bad boys and different things about what makes women sexy.

EZ: Is that what I talked about?

eZohn.com: Was this a scripted thing?

EZ: No, it was a VH1 kind of thing where they interview you for like an hour.

eZohn.com: Did you know the videos they were using?

EZ: Yeah they had me watch and comment on all the videos, but you never know what they are going to use.

eZohn.com: Huh, okay.

EZ: Did you see the 40 Greatest Reality Moments?

eZohn.com: No, I didn't. I don't have cable and forgot to get someone to tape it for me.

EZ: It was all right. [yawns] The new Amazing Race starts soon, are you psyched?

eZohn.com: Oh yeah, that's one of the reasons I've been so busy! I've been working on my TARflies site.

EZ: I might have to pull over now and stop for a bit. [Ethan was driving.]

eZohn.com: Yeah, you sounded a bit tired there.

EZ: Yeah, I might have to get a Red Bull or something. I've still got about 2 hours to go and I'm pretty tired. But it's been good talking to you because it helped keep me awake.

eZohn.com: Well then, I'm glad I served a purpose.

EZ: Of course!

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shamon
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Re: Life after All-Stars by Ethan Zohn
« Reply #1 on: Jul 7^th, 2004, 8:46am »

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sounds like he was the product of bad editing... and rupert and jerri were the products of good editing.... adds up to what others have said...

oh well, rupert still is cool

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luci
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Re: Life after All-Stars by Ethan Zohn
« Reply #2 on: Jul 7^th, 2004, 10:47pm »

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.....and Jerri still isn't Roll Eyes

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sweetmisery
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Re: Life after All-Stars by Ethan Zohn
« Reply #3 on: Jul 18^th, 2004, 1:30pm »

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Great interview! Well said Ethan. And I think he is right about Rupert. Scam.

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